[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Thursday, 16 October 1941 - Northwest of Rockall Bank -

0015 - The Corvette had gone out of sight, is now back in sight, bearing 79°, E=6000, on easterly course.

0029 - On course 95°. Speed 1/3 Ahead.

0050 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
On 15 October, 2250h, sunk out of convoy 0710/15, 1 steamer of 4792ts and torpedoed 2 Ore Freighters for combined 8157ts, Qu.1714AM. Had to dive twice from Corvette after radar detection, moderate Wabo pursuit, no damages. Continue to shadow remnants of convoy. 171cbm. 8 external Ato. WNW5/4, overcast, light haze, visibility 5-6sm, ~1000mb. - RST -

0139 - Boat is searching for the torpedoed Ore Freighter. Flower Corvette bearing 72°, E=4000, on opposite course.

0145 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Message received. Group Mordbrenner was at 0130h, in Qu.3663AL, on course 008°.

0152 - Ore Freighter comes into sight, bearing 004, E=4500. Turned boat around hard to port, new course 95°. Boat is now positioned lee-ward. The torpedoed OreII-Freighter, must be positioned ahead of the Corvette.

0200 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
Convoy 0710/15 now in Qu.1715AM top left, course 95°, speed 5kn. - RST -

Contact keeping report is not heard by HQ.

0331 - Incoming F.T.: From U 568:
Convoy SC.48: Again being driven off by Corvette. Attempting to regain contact to convoy. - Preuß -

Cmdr.: Apparently, the other boats have similar issues with the convoy escorts, as we have.

0444 - Early Morning Dawn.
Caught up with the torpedoed OreII Freighter, bearing 350°, E=3500. Crossed over to luff-side again, on course 50°.

0501 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Group Mordbrenner is to carry out a reconnaissance off the Belle Isle Straits. Boats U 573, U 374, U 208 and U 109 received orders to steer to square AJ 71, day's run 120 miles.

Cmdr.: The B.d.U. is vacating the area off the southern tip of Greenland. The Naval War Staff, must have given permission to attack outside the blockade area.

0543 - Now, the Corvette also comes into sight, bearing 139°, E=8000, on course 95, speed 5kn. Boat is running on parallel course.

0633 - Incoming F.T.0204/16: From U 568:
Convoy SC.48 now in AK 6649. At 0114h, sunk the British Empire Heron, 6023ts, out of same convoy. - Preuß -

0656 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since 15 Oct., 0400h.

0701 - Incoming F.T.: From U 568/U 502/U 558:
Boats continue to maintain contact to convoy SC.48.

0731 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
B-Dienst reporting the departure of convoy HX.155. Arrival in Op.-Area is expected around 24 Oct.

Group Mordbrenner is answering position request 0730/16:
U 208, U 374, U 573 from Qu.3832AL, on course NNE;
U 109 from Qu.3669AL, on course SW.

0800 - Running off from convoy. Boat is moving to the south, in order for improved weather and sea conditions to allow the loading of the external torpedoes.

1055 - On course 180°. Evading the already torpedoed Ore Freighter on the surface.

1200 - Qu.1728AM - Days Run: 158.5sm - ↗ 140.7 (17h 47') - ↘ 17.8sm (6h 13').
169.7cbm (4.4cbm/24h). On course 180°. 6900Ah. 8 external Ato. Weather unchanged since 15 Oct., 0400h.

- to be continued -

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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- continued from 16 October 1941, 1200h -

1201 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
The boats operating in the Southern Op.-Area, have not picked up any traffic around or west of Freetown. The boats with the same fuel reserve are ordered to proceed to the north in a patrol line, in order to increase the possibility of picking up convoy traffic. U 103, U 107, U 66 and U 125 received orders to return to base slowly on a line between 18° 30' W., and 22° 10' W.

1603 - Incoming F.T.: From U 204:
Reporting that refueling from "Gata" has been carried out. - Kell -

1607 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
No further refueling is possible from "Gata" (Cádiz) on account of lack of supplies.

1640 - Incoming F.T.1637/16: From U 553:
Convoy SC.48 now in AL 4152. - Thurmann -

1753 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since 15 Oct., 0400h.

2002 - Incoming F.T.1744/16: From U 553:
First Sunderland attached to Convoy SC.48, at about 26° W.
- Thurmann -

2251 - Incoming F.T.: From U 553:
Convoy Sc.48: At least 10 tankers, of medium and large size, in the convoy. Strong escort expected. - Thurmann -

Boat operating acc. Op.-Orders as per F.T.0501/11.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.